and courier duties in the gulf of chi ##hli , before departing in november . the naval brigades remained during the winter , un ##ha ##pp ##ily performing policing and guard duties , as well as working as railway ##men and fire @ - @ fighters . they left china in march 1901 , having played only a minor role in a few offensive ##s and pun ##itive expeditions and in the restoration of civil order . six australians died from sickness and injury , but none were killed as a result of enemy action . = = australian military forces at federation , 1901 = = the commonwealth of australia came into existence on 1 january 1901 as a result of the federation of the australian colonies
and courier duties in the gulf of chihli, before departing in november. the naval brigades remained during the winter, unhappily performing policing and guard duties, as well as working as railwaymen and fire @ - @ fighters. they left china in march 1901, having played only a minor role in a few offensives and punitive expeditions and in the restoration of civil order. six australians died from sickness and injury, but none were killed as a result of enemy action. = = australian military forces at federation, 1901 = = the commonwealth of australia came into existence on 1 january 1901 as a result of the federation of the australian colonies